Chapter 13: Encountering the Supernatural

It wasn’t a matter of poor memory, but after those playful scuffles with Meiyuan, he nearly lost something once, leaving him absent-minded and uneasy—so recalling these things became difficult. Suddenly, he remembered the diary: he had encountered some danger, and only then was he saved by his senior.

But today, his senior had already read that part and warned him to be careful. If he went to retrieve his phone, the monster would surely chase him, and since the senior had already issued a warning, it was unlikely he would intervene again.

If he went to tell the senior about this, he would surely be scolded and looked down upon—for they had agreed already, and yet he couldn’t remember.

At this thought, Xigua grew restless, rubbing his hair in agitation.

At that moment, Xigua was still wearing his bathrobe, walking toward the rooms with five girls. Perhaps noticing his demeanor, Mamuhui, who walked alongside him, asked, “Yuxi, what’s wrong? You look troubled. Are you bothered because Meiyuan teased you earlier?”

Before Xigua could answer, another girl chimed in, “Yeah, really, Meiyuan was way out of line just now.”

“Hmph, she’s always shy and demure with the boys, but as soon as she enters the girls’ bathhouse, she’s all hands-on. With moves that practiced, she’s clearly done it plenty of times. What a faker,” said another girl maliciously.

“Huh?!”

“Ah?!”

Immediately, two girls exclaimed in surprise. One whispered, “Mashu, don’t say such things. If someone hears and tells Meiyuan, it’ll be awkward for us all.”

But another beside her spoke with equal malice, “Mayouxi, you can’t put it that way. I really think Meiyuan is that kind of person. She does all those things, so surely she isn’t afraid of gossip. Hmph.”

Watching these girls bicker and banter, Xigua suddenly conceived a sinister plan and said, “Actually, there’s something on my mind…”

“What’s the matter, Yuxi? What is it?” Mamuhui asked.

“Well, I left my phone in the changing room when I was getting dressed. I want to go back for it, but I’m a bit scared. Could we go together?”

He looked pleadingly at them.

“Huh? You left your phone in the changing room?”

“That’s careless, Yuxi. If you’d put it in the room earlier, there’d be nothing to worry about.”

“It’s just a small thing. I’ll go with you.”

“Me too.”

Once one agreed, the others followed suit.

Hearing them all agree, Xigua couldn’t help but smirk coldly. If they encountered the monster, he could use them as a shield…

Unlike Qixi, Xihongchen was more decisive. Though eccentric, he showed indifference to most people and matters, reserving deep feelings only for those close to him like Qixi.

In truth, such decisiveness—ruthless and merciless—was exactly what a traveler between worlds needed.

But Qixi’s perspective differed from Xigua’s.

Being ruthless and using others wasn’t necessarily clever.

It was, in fact, a kind of petty cunning. Because even if you had shields, if the endless corridor appeared, how could you escape? If someone tripped you, you’d become the shield yourself.

The group of girls soon arrived at the girls’ bathhouse.

There, they found an unexpected guest.

Who was this?

“There’s someone in the girls’ bathhouse?” Mamuhui looked confused.

Lifting the curtain, the girls saw the figure inside.

“A man?!”

“Who is that?”

“A voyeur?”

“A pervert?!”

The girls were stunned. None had expected a boy in the bathhouse; some even shrieked in shock, “A pervert!”

“Senior!” Xigua recognized the newcomer—it was Qixi.

What was Qixi doing here?

“Don’t shout! He’s my brother!” Hearing their cries of ‘pervert,’ Xigua hurriedly intervened.

“Huh?!”

“Yuxi’s brother?”

“Why’s he here?”

“Isn’t he still a pervert? Since when did you have a brother, Yuxi?…”

“Wait, isn’t that Hakuzawa Kinda?”

“Hakuzawa Kinda is Yuxi’s brother?”

“This loser is actually Yuxi’s brother?!”

“How could that be?!”

“Yuxi’s last name is also Kinda—I thought it was just a coincidence, but I didn’t expect your relationship to be so…” Mamuhui said, incredulous.

“Seems fate is hard to change after all…” Qixi had noticed Xigua’s arrival, sighed softly, and turned around.

He paid no mind to the girls’ shock, scorn, or disgust, continuing, “Don’t worry about their shouting. This place is already sealed—no matter how loud you scream, no one outside will hear.”

Clearly, these words were meant for Xigua.

The girls stared at Qixi in bewilderment.

“Kinda, what are you trying to do?!”

“Gross! What do you mean by that?!”

“Hey! What are you up to?! I’m telling the teacher right now!”

“Even if you’re Yuxi’s brother, we won’t let you do as you please!”

Qixi furrowed his brow, his eyes glinting coldly. “All of you, shut your mouths.”

His tone was calm.

Yet within it was an undeniable authority that made them instinctively obey. Indeed, at his words, the girls all silenced themselves in fright.

“Quietly listen to me.”

Qixi’s voice was filled with focus; his every gesture radiated composure and confidence, fundamentally different from the Hakuzawa Kinda of before. The girls, who hadn’t noticed at first, now sensed how much he had changed. How could someone like this be the weakling everyone bullied?

“Listen carefully. There’s only one way out of here: step outside, close your eyes, and walk straight ahead.” Qixi smiled confidently, tossing his phone to Xigua without scolding him. “This place has been locked down by spirits. If you want to leave, you must follow my instructions. The ghost realm’s visual perception is very different from the human world’s—refraction of light and such. If you don’t close your eyes and walk straight, you’ll find yourself unable to reach the exit, endlessly looping around.”

——————

(The new book chart has me, among several other books, getting trounced—becoming the easiest target. Now I’m about to drop off the chart, and such things still happen. This is what you call… losing one’s dignity late in the game.)